The TD Summer Reading program was launched with musical guest Sylvia at the John M. Cuelenaere Library in Prince Albert on Thursday.

This year the theme for the program is Eureka, giving the children a sense of discovery with each new book they open.

Each week will be a different theme in Prince Albert, focusing on anything from butterflies to using their imagination to create crafts using materials such as toilet paper rolls.

The themes will be incorporated into their weekly story time on Mondays at 2 p.m. If the story time falls on a holiday, story time will be on Tuesday at the same time. In addition the library will also hold a Thursday matinee each week at 2 p.m.

Sharon Nelson, library program services co-ordinator, said getting kids reading in the summer months is important.

“For those who are school aged, teachers have found that if they don’t keep up reading over the summer that they do fall behind when they come back to school in the fall,” she said. “That is really important for them to keep it up.”

It also helps the preschoolers by encouraging language development and developing writing skills.

“We just want kids to enjoy reading and be able to pick up a book and get excited about it and wonder, ‘What is this gong to be about? I really want to sit and read this book,’” Nelson said. “We really want them to have that joy of reading and carry it on all through their lives.”

Each child will receive a poster, booklet, stickers and a reading log to keep track of how many hours they read.

Each week the children can drop off their reading log and get enter to win prizes, such as a Dairy Queen gift card. At the end of the summer there will also be a major draw for a Nintendo 3DSL.

This year, the library will also be part of a new pilot project the National Library started called A Sister Library.

“They have partnered different libraries all across Canada for those who are interested in participating,” Nelson said. “We were partnered with Rainy River Public Library in Ontario.”

The two libraries have set up Pinterest account to share activities they do throughout the summer.

The Prince Albert children were challenged to come up with the coolest thing about Prince Albert and submit it to the library. Their answers will be shared on Pinterest.

“We will take photos through the summer of the various crafts they made and that will also be posted as well,” Nelson said. “Rainy River will be doing the same.”

The program will give children a chance to learn more about their community and also see there are kids across the country involved in the TD Summer Reading program.